All I Can Do Is The Least That I Can Do

If we woke up tomorrow and suddenly everyone had food, what would we do with the infrastructure whose existence depends on food shortages? My personal vision of a world with no hunger requires that we feed those who are too lazy to work for food and that is against everything I stand for, yet when I meet a hungry person I never inquire as to why they are hungry. I live in one of the richest counties in America but I rarely leave the home without running into someone who needs food. When I go grocery shopping I buy a few extra bananas and I have yet to make it back to my vehicle without running into someone who needs those bananas. When it is hot I purchase cold water and I can't get out of the parking lot without meeting someone who needs that water. Even when I travel by airplane, I meet some tired parent dealing with a hungry, irritable child who is all too grateful for the snack bars I carry. I say I only want to feed \"worthy\" people, but I've yet to meet anyone unworthy of food. I can't feed the world, but I can make people who care more aware of hunger. I can inform my friends of organizations that work and those that don't. I can vigorously attack policies designed to harm the world's food supply. I can’t feed the world, but I can feed individuals. That’s what I do.

I don't believe that short of a cataclysmic event, that the world will see peace. There are too many bad guys and too much profit in it for people to voluntarily stop killing others. Our 12-year old son believes that there can be peace in the Middle East and despite my beliefs I cultivate that belief in him for, if not in my time, perhaps in his. I won't shatter his hope in a better world for perhaps he will be the one that brings peace to the world. I instead fight for the side that I believe is right, so that good can perhaps triumph over evil. I fight against injustice, highlight corruption and abuse, and exert pressure on policy-makers to withdraw support from dangerous and rogue States. That's what I do.

I am not a dreamer.
I am not a visionary.
I am not passionate, compassionate, emotional, or inspired.
I am not a writer, poet or journalist.
All I am is conflicted American Black female electrical engineer who is tired of hate, hunger, disease, poverty, violence, and greed. I am the descendant of slaves and slave owners, Jews and Catholics, Shoshone Native Americans and German settlers. I am confused about where I stand in this world because I have spent too much time looking backwards and not enough time looking forward. World Pulse has forced me to look forward, and for that I thank you.

These few weeks have been humbling. I believe that almost everyone I've encountered is better suited for VoicesRising. That being said, I still want it. I want to be a VoicesRising Correspondent because:
1. It brings out the best in me.
2. I’m inspired by the women in the group.
3. I think I can contribute and am willing to lend my expertise where needed. I am likewise committed to learning from others.
4. I have looked at the activities and responsibilities and feel that I can meet or exceed all of the requirements.

I don't deserve another chance, but yet I still want one. Except for healing our son, I have wasted every opportunity life has handed me and for that I am ashamed. I want my life to mean something. I want to be remembered as someone who did something good for the world. I have helped at least a thousand people and none of them know my name. I want someone to know my name.

If I am chosen as a Correspondent, I will put my analytical and policy skills to use to make cogent, coherent arguments in support of one position or another. I hope that is enough though I wish I could do more.

Thank you for this opportunity.